Cloud based structural engineering software provider SkyCiv has added new design functionality to its cloud software. The new features allow US structural and civil engineers to check their structural designs against the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) 360-10 regulations for steel buildings. Users can check their calculations and visualise these in their designs.

The AISC 360-10 regulations are the key guidelines for US structural engineers working with steel. SkyCiv's cloud software allows structural engineers to perform calculations to verify their designs against the regulations. The software will boost confidence in cloud based software for structural engineers, as they can now ensure that their designs meet the essential safety standards.

SkyCiv also offers a free integrated and a standalone version of the software. The standalone version presents the data in a table, using red and green colour coding to highlight problem areas. This allows engineers to see whether their design fits with the AISC regulations and make changes in real time. The data can also be exported in a professional PDF format to be shared with clients, colleagues and regulatory bodies.

“A common complaint among structural engineers is that, as regulations change, their software does not update automatically,” explained Sam Carigliano, CEO and co-founder of SkyCiv. “In some cases, engineers must pay high fees for these updates, which prevents them from easily making sure that their designs meet the most recent standards.

“With SkyCiv’s cloud based structural engineering suite updates are rolled out as quickly as possible after a regulation is revised, without any update or maintenance fees. This allows civil and structural engineers to continue designing structures that safely comply with up-to-date standards.”

The structural engineering software offered by SkyCiv is entirely cloud based. Typically, engineering analysis software uses executable program files, which require engineers to download, install and maintain the software. By hosting the application files in the cloud, engineers simply require an internet-connected device and a browser to access the software.

“The design module is completely integrated within SkyCiv’s Structural 3D analysis software and has been highly anticipated feature by our users,” added Carigliano. “We were getting requests to add design modules almost every day – it was something our users really needed.”

SkyCiv is set to add support for European, Australian, British and Canadian regulations in the coming months. This will allow engineers around the world to check their designs all within the SkyCiv software suite.